Typewriter escapement mechanism



8- 1958 J. F. SMATHERS 2,848,091

TYPEWRITER ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Filed Jan. 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 81 m JAMES E .SMATHERS. N IN VEN TOR. l

a BYW/M AGENT Aug. 19, 1958 J. F. SMATHERS 2,848,091

' TYPEWRITER ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Fil ed Jan. so, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 3 was 755 JAMES E SMA THERS.

INVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent TYPEWRITER ESCAPEMENTMECHANISM James F. Smathers, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,136

15 Claims. (Cl. 197-84) This invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly to a mechanism for moving the carriage thereof in predetermined increments which are in accordance with the character key which isactuated and is an improvement over a similar mechanism disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 545,063, filed November 4, 1955.

As is well-known in the typewriter art, the carriage is usually advanced in equal increments for each character key that is actuated. With this arrangement considerable space exists between any two letters, such as, f, i, l, t and j and the space between such letters as m, w, etc., is much less. As a result, the spacing between letters is not always uniform, nor-is any line utilized to obtain a maximum number of letters, punctuation marks and spaces in the line. It has been found that by providing an escapement mechanism for the carriage Which is capable of advancing it in variable increments in accordance with multiples of a fixed increment assigned to each letter or mark, the number of characters that can be typed on a page can be increased as high as 30 to 40 percent. This has been accomplished by providing for the lowercase letters a space which is equivalent to three fixed increments or units of space, with the exception of the letters f," i, l, t and j and the period, comma and semi-colon which are assigned two units of space, with the exception of the w whichis assigned four units of space, and with the exception of-the m which is assigned five units of space. The upper case letters are assigned four units of space with the exception of the letter I which is assigned two units of space, 'with the exception of the letters S and I which are assigned three units of space, and with the exception of the letters M and W which are assigned five units of space. This description relates to a standard typewriter key board, as it is well-known in the art.

In the prior art, escapement mechanisms associated with the carriage for providing different spacings for various characters on the key board utilized a plurality ofpawls for selectively engaging the ratchet wheel which is driven by the carriage. The various mechanisms known in the art are so designed that movement of the pawls requires a very heavy spring to overcome and move the mass involved. Further, arresting movement of such a mass subjects other parts to severe and recurring shocks. Since the mass of the pawls is relatively large and is usually moved by resilient means, the speed of movement is relatively slow due tothe inertia required to start the mass. Because of this 'fact and in order to obtain a movementof the pawls and of the carriage which corresponds to or exceeds amaximum typing speed, the spring force must be very great and the structure must, likewise, be sufliciently'sturdy and strong.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties, however, in that only a single pawl is used for engaging the ratchet wheel and this pawl byreason of its weight requires .the .use of only a very light spring. Also, due to the small mass :being moved, the movement can be ice accomplished at a much faster rate than has been heretofore possible and, as stated hereinbefore, by a much lighter spring. This results in a much more economical structure in that the other elements need not be as sturdy and, in addition, the structure-set forth is so much simpler than those known that it makes it more feasible commercially.

The escapement mechanism which permits movement of the carriage in accordance with thekey operated comprises a ratchet which is interconnected by means of gears to the carriage which is driven in a letter feed direction by a spring motor. A member arranged with respect to the ratchet has a surface .which provides a fixed stop in relation to the ratchet. A group of actuating members which are arranged with respect to the ratchet are pivotally mounted with respect to the same center and each member is provided with a stop surface aligned with a successive tooth of said ratchet. These surfaces provide a series of preselected stops in a definite relation to the aforementioned fixed stop and which are selectively positioned in an operative position upon actuation of any character key corresponding thereto. A single member is pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to the center of rotation of the ratchet and has a portion for engaging .a tooth of the ratchet and both the fixed and any one of the preselected stops. This single member is moved in one direction toward the fixed stop vindependently of the ratchet by a spring and onengaging the fixed stop it is movedinto engagement with the tooth of the ratchet aligned .with the fixedfstop. The ratchet and the single member are then moved as aunit in the opposite direction -by.the springmotor which also moves the carriage and, hence, through suitable gears rotates the ratchet. Movement of the ratchet and the carriage is arrested when theportion of the single member engages the preselected stop yvhich has beenpositioned in the path thereof by the key .which has been actuated. When the key is actuated, the universal bar actuates a pivoted member arranged with respect to the ratchet to release a latch;m emberfor the ratchet, disengages the single member from the ratchet andraises the actuating membersinto a fully released position. The single member then immediately moves in a direction toward the fixed stop and the actuating member corresponding to the key operated is retained in an operativeposition to arrest the ratchet and the carriage by releasing the ratchet member so it can engage the ratchet. .With' this arrange ment arr-economical and compact escapement mechanism is obtained which operates at a much fasterrate than any heretofore known.

The primary object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an escapement mechanism in which a singlemember is utilized for movement withvthe member driven by the ratchet and which permits much fasteraction of the escapement mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an escapement mechanism in which onlyv a singlemember movable withthe carriage and ratchet controls the amount of carriage movement.

Still anotherobject of the invention is .to provide an escapement mechanism inwhichthe'amount of carriage movement iscontrolled by a single member in conjunction with one of..a plurality ofmembers selected by the character key which is actuated and which is the only member movable withthe carriage means.

A further object of the inventionis to providean escapement mechanism in which a single member is movable independently-and solely with respect to all o'ther members in one direction and is movable by the carriage in the other direction.

And still another object of the invention is to provide .an..escapement mechanism with a minimum number of elements and which is operable at a high rate of speed and is eflicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages derived from the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description which follows.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a typewriter and showing the manner in which the character, keys and escapement mechanism are arranged with respect to the carriage;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the escapement mechanism and showing the single member in position with respect to the fixed stop member;

' actuating members are in a released position;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the actuating members;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the arrangement of the elements for selecting the actuating members to be positioned in an operative position by the character key which is operated; and

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation showing the arrangement of the various elements with respect to the ratchet and its drive gear.

While the escapement mechanism is disclosed in connection with a typewriter of the type known as an International Business Machines, Executive Model, typewriter, the invention is not to be limited to this disclosure in that the mechanism is equally well adapted to other applications in which a variable linear advance is desired in accordance with preselected conditions. With reference to Fig. 1, carriage 10, which is a conventional typewriter carriage, is mounted for travel in a horizontal direction by means of front rail 11 and rear rail 12 and carries a conventional platen roll 13. A spring motor 14 is rotatably mounted on bracket 15 and by means of a tape having one end fixed to carriage 10 moves said carriage in a letter-feed direction in a manner wellknown in the art.

The character type keys 20, only one of which is shown, are pivotally mounted at one end at 21 and guided in the slots 22 in comb 23 extending between the side frames. Springs 24, one for each key, maintain the keys in their normal position.

A conventional power-driven roller 25 is provided to drive spring-loaded earns 26 (one cam for each type key 20), as is well-known in the art and disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,600,252, which was issued September 21, 1926. The cam levers 27 are pivotally mounted on a rod 28 and earns 29 are pivotally mounted on their respective levers at 30, springs 31 maintaining their respective cam levers and cams in proper position. Sliding pawls 32 are provided with an elongated slot 33 and mounted on cam levers 27 by rivets 34 in said slots. Springs 35 arranged between cam levers 27 and pawls 32 maintain pawls 32 between lugs 36 on keys 20 and cams 29.

A selector comb 37 is arranged beneath bracket 38 and with respect to rod 39 and cam stops 40 are adjustably mounted on bracket 38. Type bars 41 are pivotally mounted at 42 in pivoting comb 43 and are connected by links 44 to their corresponding cam levers 27. Rod 39 beneath comb 37 engages the underside of selectors 45 which are pivotally mounted at one end at 46 to cam levers 27 and slidably engage the slots in comb 37. Templet rods 47, 48 and 49 are mounted in bracket 50 and carry rocker arms 51, 52 and 53 to which clevis rods 54, 55 and 56 are connected, respectively. It should be noted at this point that selectors 45 are provided for keys 20 which require a spacing other than normal, in other words, more than two increments of space.

In operation, an operator will strike a key 20 which requires a spacing other than normal, for example, the lower case w which requires four increments of space. Striking key 20 causes it to pivot about 21 and thereby tension spring 24 and, at the same time, is guided by slot 22 in comb 23 during its movement. Lug 36 engages pawl 32 to force cam 29 against the continuously rotating drive roll 25 whereby cam lever 27 is actuated and through link 44 causes type bar 41 to pivot on rod 42 and strike platen 13 to print the required w. The pivoting movement of type bar 41 causes the type bar to strike universal bar 57 which shifts toward the back of the typewriter. Cam lever 27, simultaneously with the actuation of type bar 41, draws selector 45 toward the rear of the typewriter and rotates rod 48. With this action, clevis rod 55 is moved toward the front of the type writer. A complete disclosure of the structure and function of selector 45 and its related elements can be derived from my above-mentioned and copending application.

Clevis rods 54, 55 and 56 are connected to extensions 58, 59 and 60 on rods mounted in bracket 61, only one of said rods, namely rod 62, being shown in Fig. 1. Similar extensions, not shown, are fixed to the other ends of said rods which, in turn, are connected by links 63, 64 and 65 to plates 66, 67 and 68 for oscillating actuating members 137, 138 and 139 in a manner to be described hereinafter. Also universal bar 57 is connected by link 69 to lip 126 whereby the escapement mechanism 70 is actuated in a manner also described hereinafter.

The escapement mechanism 70 is driven by means of carriage 10. This is accomplished by means of rack 71 which is fixed to the carriage, as shown in Fig. 1, and which meshes with pinion 72 on the upper side of plate 73. Pinion 72 is rotatably mounted with ratchet 74 on the other side of plate 73, as shown in Fig. 8. Actuating members 75, 76 and 77 are pivotally mounted, in spaced relation between ratchet 74 and plate 73, on a bushing 78 which, in turn, is carried by a link 79 pivotally mounted on bushing 80 which is secured to plate 73 by screw 81. The rearmost member 77 is provided with a shoulder 82 near the pivotal point thereof, a shoulder 83 and a shoulder 84. Members 75 and 76 are also provided with shoulders 85 and 86, respectively, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Members 75, 76 and 77 are retained in normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, by springs 87, 88 and 89 having one end fixed to one of said members and the other ends thereof being anchored to pin 90 in plate 73.

The teeth of ratchet 74 determine the increments of movement of carriage 10. In other words, the central angle formed by any two successive teeth is equivalent, when transposed into linear movement through pinion 72 and rack 71, to one increment of space for each character. As stated hereinabove, two increments are required for the minimum space allotted to the period, f, i, etc., and such minimum space is, therefore, equivalent to the angular movement of two ratchet teeth. In the same manner, three spaces or increments are equivalent to three teeth, etc. I

To the right of ratchet 74, as shown in Figs. 2-5, a plate 92 is mounted on two spaced bushings 93 by screws 94 and 95. This plate is provided with an ear 96 formed at right angles thereto and an extension 97. A single member 98 is pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to the center of ratchet 74 by means of stud 99 and slot 100. Member 98 is provided with a formedover lip 101, the underside of which is formed at an angle for engaging the teeth of ratchet 74 and which is of sufficient length toengage any one of shoulders 83, 84, 85 or 86, see Fig. 8. Member 98 is urged in a clockwise direction by spring 102 having one end fixed thereto and the other end fixed to ear 96. On plate 92 and-pivotally mounted thereon by screw 95 is an expander 103 having a surface 104 substantially aligned with one of said ratchet teeth and a second surface 105, which, when in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, is aligned with the next and successive ratchet tooth in a clockwise direction. Surface 104 lies in the path of lip 101 and normally provides a fixed stop against which member 98 is moved by spring 102.

To the left of ratchet 74, as disclosed in Figs. 25, a latch member 106 and a release member 107 are pivotally mounted on the spacer 108 by stud 109, said spacer extending from plate 73 and member 106 being arranged in the plane of ratchet 74 whereas release member 107 overlies ratchet 74. Latch member 106 is provided with a nose 110 which is biased toward ratchet 74 by spring 111. Member 107 is biased in a clockwise direction by spring 112 having one end fixed to tail 113 on member 107 and the other end fixed to pin 114 on plate 73. Bell crank 115' is pivotally mounted to plate 73 at 116 and one end of spring 111 is fixed to arm 117 thereof. The other arm 118 is provided with a ledge 119 which is adapted to engage the under side of ear 120 formed opposite nose 110 on latch member 106. Spring 111, therefore, biases latch member 106 and bell crank 115 in opposite directions.

Release member 107 comprises an arm 121 having va bent over portion 122 for a purpose to be described hereinafter, a ledge 123 arranged in alignment with the end of member 98, an arm 124 having a formed over extension 125 which is arranged between the under sides of members 75, 76 and 77 and extension 97, and a lip 126 to which link 69 is connected.

In order to limit the movement of link 79, as will be described hereinafter, link 79 is provided with an extension 127 which abuts spacer 108, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Pivotally mounted between ear 128 and plate 73, and slidably mounted on pin 129 is a stop member 130, see Figs. 2-7, which is biased against a projection 131 by leaf spring 132. The lower end of holding member 130 is provided with a notch 133 which is best shown in Fig. 7. The other end of member 130 lies adjacent the ends of members 75, 76 and 77.

In order to better understand the coaction of the various elements as well as the manner in which they function, it is best to describe the action of such elements in conjunction with those elements of the typewriter which are associated therewith. In Fig. 3 the various parts are shown in a state of rest or in their relative positions at the instant carriage has been arrested. In this position, ratchet 74- is maintained inoperative by latch memher 106, the nose 110 of which is an engagement with one of the teeth on ratchet 74 and retained in this position by spring 112. Since ratchet 74 is not permitted to move, carriage 10, which is urged in a letter-feed direction by spring motor 14, is also not permitted to move because rack 71 and pinion 72 interconnect carriage 10 and ratchet 74. Single member 98 is urged against stud 99 by spring 102 and its lip 101 is thus retained in engagement with one of the teeth of ratchet 74, lip 101 also abutting shoulder 83 on actuating member 77, shoulder 83 permitting the greatest amount of movement of carriage 10. In normal operation of the typewriter, expander 103 is normally in the position shown in Fig. 3 with surface 104 in substantial alignment with a tooth of ratchet 74 to provide a fixed stop against which lip 101 is moved as is to be described hereinafter.

With reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that shoulders 85, 86, 84 and 83 of actuating members 75, 76 and 77, if moved about their respective pivot points are each aligned with successive teeth on ratchet 74. The shoulder on member 75 is'spaced a distance equivalent .to two teeth from the tooth aligned withsurface 104 on explander 103 establishing the fixed stop, shoulder'86 aligns with the third tooth, shoulder 84 with the fourth tooth and shoulder 83 with the fifth tooth, these spacings being accomplished only when members 75, 76 and 77 are moved selectively into an operative position in which said shoulders arearranged in the path of lip 101to provide a series of preselected stop positions, shoulder 83 providing the normal position of five increments of space. By means of the single member 98 and actuatingmembers 75, 76 and 77, the movement of ratchet 74 and, hence, the movement of carriage 10 can normally be varied from a minimum of two increments of movement to a maximum of five increments of movement. The respective keys in a group which require the same numberof increments are, therefore, connected to the same actuating member, those keys carrying a character which necessitate five increments of space not being connected to any one of members 75, 76 or 77 since the normal position of shoulder 83 automatically provides this spacing.

Upon actuation of any one ofthe character keys 20, assuming lower case letters are being typed, key 20 .by means of type bar 41 actuates universal bar 57 in a wellkno-wn manner which, in turn, by means of connecting link 69 moves release member 107 in a counterclockwise direction. With this movement of member 107, bent over portion 122 an arm 121 engages latch member 106 to release nose from the tooth with which it is engaged and moves said latch member to aposition, as shown in Fig. 5, in which car is engaged by ledge 119 on arm 118 of bell crank lever 115, spring 111 and ear 120 retaining said latch member in this disengaged position. At the same time, ledge 123 on release member 107 engages the end of member 98 and moves itradially, thereby disengaging lip 101 from the tooth of ratchet 74 and from the shoulder 83 on actuating member 77. Upon release of member 98 from the tooth on ratchet 74, member 98 is immediately moved about stud 99 by spring 102 toward surface 104 which arrests movement thereof and spring 102 upon return of type bar 41 to its normal position, then pulls member 98 in a radial direction so that lip 101 engages the tooth of ratchet 74 aligned with surface 104. During the movement of member 98 toward surface 104, ledge 123 retains member 98 in this raised position whereby lip 101 can be moved freely over and above the teeth on ratchet 74 and toward said surface. Extension of arm 124 also engages the underside of actuating members 75, 76 and 77 and pivots them about their pivot on link 79 from their-normal position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, to a release position which is above that of the operative position and the end of holding member 130. By means of the linkage connecting members 137, 138 and 139 with selectors '45, one of said members is moved into engagement with notch 133 in member and causes said member to move sideways along pin 129 into a position with respect to said actuating members whereby the actuating member corresponding to the character key which has been actuated is retained in an operative position with its respective shoulder in the path of lip 101, as seen in Fig. 2. Since shoulders 85, 86, and 84 lie ahead of shoulder 83, the actuation of any one of members 75, 76 or 77 into an operative position negatives the function of shoulder 83.

Since the movement of latch member 106, single member 98 and actuating members 75, 76 and 77 is accomplished at substantially the same instant, movement of carriage 10 can take place because it is no longer retained either by latch member 106 or lip 101 abutting one of shoulders 83-86 on the said actuating members. Because of the very small mass comprising single member 98, spring 102 moves said member very quickly in a clockwise direction into position against surface 104 and into engagement with the tooth on ratchet 74 upon completion of printing and return of type bar .41 to its normal .position. Since carriage is free to be moved by spring motor 14, member 98 is moved in the other direction with ratchet 74 by means of lip 101 which is maintained in engagement with a tooth of said ratchet by spring 102. As lip 101 is moved with ratchet 74, it abuts the shoulder on the one of the members 75, 76 or 77 which is retained in an operative position by holding member 130 providing the key that was actuated requires two to four increments of space. Since the actuating members are pivoted on link 79 which, in turn, is pivoted on bushing 80, the members are moved to the left by lip 101 and the shoulder 82 on actuating member 77 then strikes ledge 119 of bell crank lever 115 to release ear 120 from said ledge. Spring 112 then urges nose 110 into engagement with a tooth of ratchet 74 to arrest the movement of said ratchet and, hence, the carriage 10. With the release of latching member 106 and the movement of the actuating member 75, 76 or 77 to the left, the end of the actuating member in the operative position is moved off of holding member 130 and its respective spring then returns it to the normal position with respect to the other of said members.

Although release of the afore-mentioned elements permits movement of the carriage, the action is extremely fast and must necessarily be so in order that the proper actuating member can be positioned and the carriage released by the next key that is actuated. From the foregoing description it should also be evident that member 98 is moved independently of ratchet 74 in one direction, that is, in a direction toward the fixed surface 104, and with ratchet 74 in the other direction and toward the preselected stop, as determined by shoulders 8386 on actuating members 75, 76 and 77.

Extension 127 on link 79 normally abuts the external surface of spacer 80 to limit the normal position of actuating members 75, 76 and 77. Link 79 is retained in this position by spring 134 having the one end thereof fixed to a pin on plate 73. The one of the actuating members 75, 76 or 77 which is retained in the operative position is moved to the left, as has been described, when engaged by lip 101. Since all of said actuating members are mounted on link 79, they are moved to the left as a unit and the one in the operative position is returned to its normal position by its respective spring when engaged by lip 101, latch member 106 holding ratchet 74 against further movement. The movement of said actuating members to the right by spring 134 is then limited by extension 127 which engages with spacer 80, as shown in Fig. 5.

It may be well to point out that shoulders 83-456 on actuating members 75, 76 and 77 must of necessitybe angularly displaced from the respective radial surface on the teeth of ratchet 74 to compensate for the thickness of lip 101. For this reason, said shoulders cannot be exactly aligned with said radial surfaces of the ratchet teeth. This same condition must, of course, also prevail with respect to surfaces 104 and 105 on expander 103.

As described hereinabove, upon actuation of a key 20, the corresponding selector 45 is actuated and the respective clevis rod 54, 55 or 56 is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 1. This movement causes rotation of its respective rod which, in turn, by means of link 65 rotates its actuating member 139 into engagement with notch 133 to move holding member 130 to the left until members 75 and 76 are aligned with the left hand ledge 135 whereby member 77 is retained by the extension 136 of holding member 130 in its operative position.

As shown in Fig. 7, holding member 130 is provided with two ledges 135 and an extension 136 which are arranged so that any two of members 75, 76 and 77 can be inoperative upon selection of the third to provide the required two, three or four increments of spacing for the letter being typed. With reference to Fig. 7, if member 75 has been selected for the spacing of a letter requiring two increments member 130 is moved to the left by actuating member 137 so that member 75 engages the top edge of extension 136 and member is held in this position by projection 136 which abuts the left-hand side of member 75, the right-hand ledge permitting members 76 and 77 to assume their normal positions. Upon actuation of a key requiring two, three or four increments, actuating members 137, 138 or 139 are moved into engagement with notch 133 and cause holding member 130 to move to the left the required amount to retain the proper actuating member 75, 76 or 77 in an operative position. By means of a coil spring, not shown, on pin 129 which is arranged between car 128 and holding member 130, said holding member is returned to a position in which members 75, 76 and 77 are returned by their respective springs to the release position and in engagement with extension 125, as shown in Fig. 4. With this arrangement, shoulder 83 is always maintained in a position for providing the normal five increments of spacing unless a key is actuated which requires two, three or four increments of space.

Adjacent the conventional shift key on the key board, an expander key is arranged which, by a suitable linkage, is connected to expander 103. Upon actuation of the expander key, clevis rod is moved to the left and expander 103 is then positioned with surface 105 arranged in the path of lip 101, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. With this arrangement an additional increment of space can be added to any one or all of the three increments normally provided so that, in effect, the increments now vary from three to six instead of from two to five. This is of particular advantage when used in conjunction with the typing of the capital letters and can be interconnected with the shift key, if so desired. Such a linkage is disclosed in my above-mentioned and copending application.

The invention has been described in conjunction with a typewriter, however, the escapement mechanism described can be readily used in other apparatus requiring different increments of movement. Since other modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not to be limited to the apparatus disclosed but is defined by the appended claims.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

1. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letterfeeding direction, a fixed stop, a plurality of stops selectively arranged in spaced relation to said fixed stop in accordance with the type character being printed, a control member movable in one direction independently of said carriage and said drive means against said fixed stop and movable in the other direction with said carriage into engagement with one of said selected stops, resilient means operatively connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for retaining said control member and said carriage in engagement during movement in said other direction, and means actuated by the one of said selected stops engaged by said control member for arresting movement of said carriage.

2. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the type character being printed, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, latching means for preventing movement of said carriage when at rest and for stopping said carriage after a typing operation, mean for disengaging said latching means to permit carriage movement in a letter-feeding direction, a control member operatively connected to said carriage and movable therewith in a letter-feeding direction and movable independently thereof in an opposed direction, resilient means operatively connected to said control member for moving said control member in said opposed direction and for retaining said control member and carriage operatively engaged during movement in said letter-feeding direction, means for arresting movement of said control member in said letter-feeding direction after varying amounts of movement in accordance with the type character being printed, and means actuated by said arresting means upon engagement by said control member for releasing said latching means to prevent further movement of said carriage.

3. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the type character being printed, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a pawl for holding said carriage when at rest and for stopping movement of said carriage after spacing for a character, means for disengaging said pawl to permit movement of said carriage in said letter-feeding direction, latch means for engaging and retaining said pawl in a disengaged relation during movement of said carriage, a control member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby in onedirection, means for disengaging said control member from operative connection with said carriage, stop means for arresting movement of said control member in said other direction, resilient means for moving said control member in said other direction independently of said carriage while disengaged therefrom and for causing operative reengagement of said control member with said carriage, and means for selectively varying the movement of said control member and said carriage in said one direction, whereby upon actuation of said last-mentioned means by said control member, said pawl is released for engaging said carriage to arrest and hold said carriage against further movement in said one direction.

4. A proportional spacing escapement for a typewriter, comprising a carriage movable in a letter-feeding direction, a toothed member movable with said carriage, a holding pawl normally engaging said toothed member to prevent movement of said carriage, means for disengaging said holding pawl from said toothed member to permit carriage movement in said letter-feeding direction, means for locking said holding pawl out of engagement with said toothed member during movement of said carriage for letter spacing, a dog normally engaging said toothed member when said carriage is at rest, means for disengaging said dog from said toothed member to permit movement thereof in one direction, means for moving said dog in said one direction independently of said carriage and for causing reengagement of said dog with said toothed member upon arrest of movement in said one direction, and a plurality of stops for selectively arresting and varying the movement of said dog in the other direction in accordance with the letter being printed, said dog being moved in the other direction with said toothed member against one of said stops for releasing said locking means to permit reengagement of said holding pawl with said toothed member to arrest movement of said carriage.

5. A device for providing varying widths of space to typewritten characters, comprising a pawl for holding a carriage-driven member to prevent carriage movement in a letter-feeding direction, a type-bar actuated means for disengaging said feed pawl from said carriagedriven member to permit carriage movement in said letter-feeding direction, a latch for engaging and holding said pawl against reengagement with said carriage-driven member as said carriage moves to prOVide space for the character to be printed, control means in engagement with said carriage-driven member when said carriage is at rest and movable independently thereof in an opposite direction to that of said carriage-driven member when released therefrom, means for releasing said control means from said carriage-driven member simultaneously with said pawl, stop means for limiting the movement of said control means in said opposite direction, resilient means for moving said control means toward said stop means and for retaining said control means and carriage-driven member in engagement during movement in said letter-feeding direction, a plurality of stop members for arresting movement of said control means after varying amounts of travel in accordance wtih the space required for the type character being printed, and typebar controlled means for selecting and positioning the one of the stop members corresponding to said type character in the path of said control member, whereby movement of said carriage-driven member and said control means is arrested by the selected one of said stop members and said latch releases said pawl to permit engagement thereof with said carriage-driven member for arresting the movement thereof.

6. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letterfeeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, means arranged adjacent and with respect to said driven member for establishing a fixed starting position, control means mounted with respect to said driven member, movable independently therof in one direction to said fixed starting position in which it engages said driven member, and movable with said driven member in an opposite direction to a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control means for moving said control means in said one direction and for maintaining said control means and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member and movable from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position in accordance with the character key connected thereto, each of said actuable members establishing in said operative position a different preselected position for engaging said control means and for determining the extent of movement of said driven member and said carriage, and means actuated into simultaneous engagement with said control means and said actuable members by any one of said character keys for disengagement of said control means with respect to said driven member to permit movement of said control means in said one direction and into said fixed starting position for movement with said driven member and for moving said actuable members into said release position.

7. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letterfeeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, means arranged adjacent and with respect to said driven member for establishing a fixed starting, position, control means mounted with respect to said driven member, movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position in which it engages said driven member, and movable with said driven member in an opposite direction to a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control means for moving said control means in said one direction and for maintaining said control means and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member and movable from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position in accordance with the character key connected thereto, each of said actuable members establishing in said operative position a diiferent preselected position for engaging said control means and for determining the extent of movement of said driven member and said carriage,

means actuated into simultaneous engagement with said control means and said actuable members by any one of said character keys for disengagement of said control means with respect to said driven member to permit movement of said control means in said one direction and into said fixed starting position for movement with said driven member and for moving said actuable members into said release position, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said control means during movement of said carriage.

8. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letterfeeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, means arranged adjacent and with respect to said driven member for establishing a fixed starting position, a control member pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said driven member and movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position and including an extension for engaging said driven member in said fixed starting position for movement therewith in the opposite direction to a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for maintaining said control member and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member and movable from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position in accordance with the character key connected thereto, each of said actuable members establishing in said operative position a different preselected position for engaging said extension and for determining the extent of movement of said driven member and said carriage, latching means for engaging said driven member for preventing movement thereof when said control member is in any one of said preselected positions, means actuated into simultaneous engagement with said latching means, said control member and said actuable members by any one of said character keys for disengagement of said latching means and said control member with respect to said driven member to permit movement of said control member in said one direction and into said fixed starting position for movement with said driven member and for moving said actuable members into said release position, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said control member during movement of said carriage.

9. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, means arranged adjaient and with respect to said driven member for establishing a fixed starting position, a control member pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said driven member and movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position and including an extension for engaging said driven member in said fixed starting position for movement therewith in the opposite direction to a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for maintaining said control member and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members pivotally mounted on a common center and arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven 12 member and movable from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position, each of said members having a surface thereof arranged in the path of said extension and arranged in a ditferent relation to said fixed starting position in accordance with the key operated to provide variable stops for determining the extent of movement of said driven memher and establishing in said operative position said predetermined position for engaging said extension to arrest movement of said driven member and said carriage, latching means for engaging said driven member to prevent movement thereof when said control member is in any one of said preselected positions, means actuated into simultaneous engagement with said latching means, said control member and said actuable members by any one of said character keys for disengagement of said latching means and said control means with respect to said driven member to permit movement of said control member in said one direction and into said fixed starting position for movement with said driven member, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said control member during movement of said carriage.

10.'A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letterfeeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, a stop member positioned with respect to said driven member to provide a fixed starting position, a control member pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said driven member and movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position and including an extension for engaging said driven member in said fixed starting position for movement therewith in the opposite direction to a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for maintaining said control member and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members pivotally mounted on a common center and arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member and movable from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position, each of said members having a surface thereof arranged in the path of said extension and in a different relation to said fixed starting position in accordance with the key operated to provide variable stops for determining the extent of movement of said driven member and establishing in said operative position said predetermined position for engaging said extension to arrest movement of said driven member and said carriage, latching means for engaging said driven member for preventing movement thereof when said control member reaches any one of said preselected positions, means actuated into simultaneous engagement with said latching means, said control member and said actuable members by any one of said character keys for disengagement of said latching means and said control means with respect to said driven member to permit movement of said control member in said one direction and into said fixed starting position for movement with said driven member, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said control member during movement of said carriage.

11. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to 13 said carriage and movable thereby, a stop member pivotally mounted with respect to said driven member and having a surface providing a fixed starting position with respect to said driven member and a second surface providing a second fixed starting position a predetermined distance beyond said first starting position, a control member pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said driven member and movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position and including an extension for engaging said driven member in each of said fixed starting positions for movement therewith in the opposite direction to apreselected position, resilient means connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for maintaining said control member and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members pivotally mounted on a common center and arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member and movable from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position, one of said members having a surface for engaging said extension to determine the maximum movement of said carriage when said members are in said normal position and each of said members having a surface thereof arranged in the path of said extension and in a different relation to said first-mentioned fixed starting position in accordance with the key operated to provide variable stops for determining the extent of movement of said driven member and said carriage and establishing in said operative position said predetermined position for engaging said extension to arrest movement of said driven member and said carriage, latching means for engaging said driven member to prevent movement thereof when said control member reaches any one of said preselected positions, means actuated into simultaneous engagement with said latching means, said control member and said actuable members by any one of said character keys for disengagement of said latching means and said control means with respect to said driven member to permit movement of said control member in said one direction and into one of said fixed starting positions for movement with said driven member, means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position With respect to said control member during movement of said carriage, and means independent of said character keys for moving said stop member to selectively: position said second surface in the path of said extension to extend the travel of said carriage by an amount equivalent to said predetermined distance.

12. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, means arranged adjacent and with respect to said driven member for establishing a fixed starting position, a control member pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said driven member and movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position and including an extension for engaging said driven member in said fixed starting position for movement therewith in the opposite direction to 'a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for maintaining said control member and said driven member in an engaging relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members pivotally mounted on a common center and arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member for movement from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position in accordance with 114 thecharacterkey connected thereto, each ofsaid-members having a-surface arranged with respect tosaid driven member and selectively positioned in the path of said extension when said actuable members are in said operable position to provide a series of equally spaced preselected positions for engaging said extension and for determining the extent of movement of said driven member and said carriage in accordance with the key operated, latching means for engaging said driven member for preventing movement thereof when said control member is in one of said preselected positons, means for holding said latching means in a disengagedposition with respect to said driven member during movement thereof and releasable therefrom by the actuable memher in said operative position upon engagement With said extension, means actuated by any one of said character keys into simultaneous engagement with said latching means for movement thereof into engagement with said holding means, with saidcontrol member for disengagement thereof with respect to said drive member to permit movement thereof in said one direction and into said fixed starting position for engagement and movement with said driven member, and with said actuable members for movement thereof into said release position, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the surface of the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said control member during movement of said carriage.

13. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a driven member operatively connected to said carriage and movable thereby, means arranged adjacent and with respect to said driven member for establishing a fixed starting position, a control member pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to said driven member and movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position and including an extension for engaging said driven member in said fixed starting position for movement therewith in the opposite direction to a preselected position, resilient means connected to said control member for moving said control member in said one direction and for maintaining said control member and said driven member in an engagingrelation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members pivotally mounted on a common center and arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member for movement from a normal position into a release position in a plane parallel to the plane of said driven member and selectively retained in an operative position in accordance with the character key connected thereto, each of said members having a surface arranged with respect to said driven member and selectively positioned in the path of said extension when said actuable members are in said operable position to provide a series of equally spaced preselected positions for engaging said extension and for determining the extent movement of said driven member and said carriage in accordance with the key .operated, latching means for engaging said driven member for preventing movement thereof when said control member is in one of said preselected positions, means for holding said latching means in a disengaged position with respect to said driven member during movement thereof and releasable therefrom by the actuable member in said operative position upon engagement with said extension, a single member pivotally mounted for movement over said driven member by any one of said character keys and including an extension for engaging and moving said latching means into engagement with said holding means, a central portion for disengaging said control member from said driven member when in any one of said preselected positions to permit movement thereof in said one direction and into said fixed 15 starting position and engagement with said driven member, and an extension for engaging said actuable members in said normal position and said actuable member in said operative position for movement thereof into said release position, said extensions and central portion engaging said latching means, actuable members and control member at substantially the same time, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the surface of the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said control member upon release of the key operated and during movement of said carriage.

14. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a ratchet operatively connected to said carriage and rotatable thereby, a stop member positioned with respect to said ratchet to provide a fixed starting position, a single member slidably and pivotally mounted with respect to the center of rotation of said ratchet, movable independently thereof in one direction to said fixed starting position in which it engages a tooth of said ratchet, and movable with said ratchet in the opposite direction to a preselected position, a spring connected to said single member for moving said single member in said one direction and for maintaining said single member and said ratchet in an engaged relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members arranged in side by side relation adjacent said ratchet and pivotally mounted at the same end thereof with respect to a common center, said actuable members each having a surface aligned with successive teeth of said ratchet for establishing a plurality of preselected positions in accordance with the character key connected thereto for engaging said single member to arrest said carriage and being movable from a normal position into a release position and an operative position in which each of said surfaces establish one of said preselected positions, latching means for engaging said ratchet for preventing movement thereof when said single member reaches any one of said preselected positions, a lever pivotally mounted at one end thereof for movement over said ratchet by any one of said character keys and including an extension adjacent said one end for disengaging said latching means from said ratchet, a central portion for engaging the end of said single member, to disengage it from said ratchet when in any one of said preselected positions to permit movement thereof in said one direction and into said fixed starting position and engagement with said ratchet, and an extension at the other end thereof for engaging said actuable members in said normal position and said actuable member in said operative position for movement thereof into said release position, said extensions and central portion engaging said latching means, actuable members and single member at substantially the same time, and means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the surface of the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said single member during movement of said carriage.

15. A device for varying the movement of a typewriter carriage in accordance with the character key which is operated, comprising drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving said carriage in a letter-feeding direction, a ratchet operatively connected to said carriage and rotatable thereby, a stop member pivotally mounted with respect to said ratchet and having a surface aligned with a tooth thereof to provide a fixed starting position with respect to said ratchet and a second surface aligned with the next and succeeding tooth thereof in a direction opposed to that of the normal movement of said ratchet to provide a second fixed starting position, a single member slidably and pivotally mounted with respect to the center of rotation of said ratchet, movable independently thereof in one direction to one of said fixed starting positions in which it engages the tooth of said ratchet aligned therewith, and movable with said ratchet in the opposite direction to a preselected position, a spring connected to said single member for moving said single member in said one direction and for maintaining said single member and said ratchet in an engaged relation during movement in said opposite direction, a plurality of actuable members arranged in side by side relation adjacent said driven member and pivotally mounted at the same end thereof with respect to a common center, said actuable members each having a surface aligned with successive teeth of said ratchet in a predetermined relation to said tooth establishing said fixed starting position for establishing a plurality of preselected positions in accordance with the character key connected thereto for engaging said single member to arrest said carriage and being movable from a normal position into a release position and selectively into an operative position in which one of said surfaces establishes one of said preselected positions in accordance with the key which is operated, a pivotally mounted latch arranged adjacent said ratchet for engaging the teeth thereof to prevent movement of said carriage when said single member reaches any one of said preselected positions, a lever pivotally mounted at one end thereof for movement over said ratchet by any one of said character keys and including an extension adjacent said one end for disengaging said latch from said ratchet, a central portion for engaging the end of said single member to disengage it from said ratchet when in any one of said preselected positions to permit movement thereof in said one direction and into one of said fixed starting positions and engagement with said ratchet, and an extension at the other end thereof for engaging the actuable members in said normal position and said actuable member in said operative position for movement thereof into said release position, said extensions and central portion engaging said latch, actuating members and single member at substantially the same time, means actuable by the same key for selecting and retaining the surface of the actuable member corresponding thereto in said operative position with respect to said single member during movement of said carriage, and means actuable independently of said character keys for moving said stop member to selectively position said second surface in the path of said single member to extend the travel of said carriage by an amount equivalent to the distance between the successive teeth aligned with said first and second surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,185 Waite Nov. 5, 1940 

